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United States Patent |
5,692,322
|
Lombardino
|
December 2, 1997
|
Combination athletic shoes and plometric training device
Abstract
Combination athletic shoes and plyometric training devices are disclosed.
The said shoes having removable heels that include a snap-lock track slide
retainer fixedly disposed in the sole at the instep of the athletic shoe,
a heel track slide retainer fixedly disposed in the sole at the heel of
the athletic shoe and having a lower surface with a female portion of a
dovetail joint therein, and a heel track slide with integral forward
snap-lock insert fixedly attached to the heel of the athletic shoe and
having a male portion of a dovetail joint on the top thereof that slidably
engages the female portion of the dovetail joint in the lower surface of
the heel track slide retainer and which is releasibly retained thereto by
a release disposed on the bottom of the athletic shoe. This arrangement
allows for the athletic shoe to function in a combination use in that
without the heel in place the shoe can be used as plyometric type strength
training device for the lower leg muscles. With the heel attached, this
arrangement allows for a means of preventing any movement or inadvertent
detachment of the heel, thus allowing the shoe to function as a regular
use athletic shoe.
Inventors:
|
Lombardino; Thomas D. (82-11 160th Ave., Howard Beach, NY 11414)
|
Appl. No.:
|
727706 |
Filed:
|
October 3, 1996 |
Current U.S. Class: |
36/100; 36/36A; 36/36B; 36/42; 482/79 |
Intern'l Class: |
A43B 003/24; A43B 021/40; A43B 023/10 |
Field of Search: |
36/100,36 R,36 C,36 A,36 B,42
482/79
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
1888617 | Nov., 1932 | Bridi | 36/42.
|
2466611 | Apr., 1949 | Nicoletti | 36/36.
|
2582551 | Jan., 1952 | Malherbe | 36/42.
|
4214384 | Jul., 1980 | Gonzalez | 36/42.
|
5373649 | Dec., 1994 | Choi | 36/36.
|
5419060 | May., 1995 | Choi | 36/36.
|
5519950 | May., 1996 | Wang | 36/36.
|
Primary Examiner: Kavanaugh; Ted
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Combination athletic shoes and plyometric training devices comprising:
a. an upper;
b. a rigid one piece molded sole portion which includes a heel section and
an out-sole section, being fixedly attached to the upper;
c. a heel which is removably attached to the heel section of the sole of an
athletic shoe by way of a plurality of interlocking fasteners that provide
for a synergistic securing means of retaining the removably attached heel
in place, and;
d. one such interlocking fastener being a snap-lock track slide retainer
that is fixedly disposed in the sole of the shoe at the instep;
e. said retainer is held in position by way of integral parallel
projections extending vertically on either side of retainer, and is
positioned up through a cutout that has corresponding parallel notches
running vertically up through the bottom instep portion of the sole, and;
f. the retainer will engage with a first heel track slide that comprises an
integral snap-lock insert at the front, a male portion of a dovetail joint
on the upper surface, a track stop at the rear, and parallel projections
extending horizontally on either side at the bottom surface; and,
g. said parallel projections of the heel track slide will fixedly attach
the heel track slide to the removable heel by way of corresponding
parallel notches running horizontally within the said removable heel
component, and,
h. an upper heel track slide retainer that will slidably engage with the
first heel track slide by way of a female portion of a dovetail joint at
the bottom surface of said heel track slide retainer, with said heel track
slide retainer being fixedly disposed in the heel section of the sole of
the athletic shoe by way of parallel projections extending horizontally on
either side of an upper surface of the heel track slide retainer,
i. the said parallel projections of the heel track slide will fixedly
attach the heel track slide retainer by way of corresponding parallel
notches running horizontally within the said heel section of the sole of
the athletic shoe; and,
j. a track stop angled inward at the bottom of the female portion of the
dovetail joint which corresponds with the angle on the heel track slide of
the male portion of the dovetail joint to provide for a means of
preventing any horizontal movements of the attached heel when fully
engaged.
2. Combination athletic shoes and plyometric training devices as defined in
claim 1 wherein the heel unit is releasibly retained within the snap-lock
track slide retainer by a integrally attached release disposed on the
bottom of the athletic shoe.
3. Combination athletic shoes and plyometric training devices defined in
claim 1 wherein:
a. the sole and integral heel section of the sole will be a one piece
molded hard rubber material selected from the group consisting of ebonite
and un-foamed polyurethane, with a paddle shaped bottom sole platform
providing for greater stability for the wearer in the plyometric training
form, and;
b. the integral heel section of the sole also includes an integrally molded
U-shaped projection with a center groove running through it that will
recessedly incorporate the fixedly attached heel track retainer preventing
wear thereto when the shoe is used with the heel section removed; and,
c. the removable heel section includes a corresponding U-shaped recess that
substantially mates with the said integral molded U-shaped projection of
the integral heel section of the sole and will also incorporate the
fixedly attached heel track slide for engagement of the removable heel
section with the integral heel section of the sole; and,
d. the instep portion of the sole at the area on either side of the fixedly
disposed snap-lock track slide retainer will have integrally molded
parallel wedge apertures; and,
e. the removable heel section at the area of the fixedly disposed snap-lock
insert will include corresponding integrally molded parallel wedge
protrusions which insert into the said apertures to further prevent any
lateral movement of the removable heel section when attached to the shoe
in it's regular use configuration.
4. Combination athletic shoes and plyometric training devices of claim 3
wherein;
a. the outsole section of said sole will contain a cutout within the area
whereas the ball of the foot will situate; and
b. the said cutout will contain a foamed sponge rubber cushioning compound,
providing the shoes with some degree of shock absorption properties.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to athletic shoes designed for
basketball play, and more specifically, to athletic shoes which can be
converted from general type athletic shoes into plyometric type strength
building training shoes which can increase the users running speed and
vertical jumping ability over a period of use. This conversion is
accomplished by way of a specially designed sole and removable heel
assembly on the shoes. With minor out-sole modifications, the invention is
suitable as a cross-training type of shoe, or for tennis or running shoe
applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional athletic shoe heel is an integral part of the sole which is
generally molded in one piece in the manufacturing process. Aside from
being easier to manufacture in this manner, an athletic shoe that is to be
worn during sport, especially a sport as rigorous as basketball, needs a
heel that will withstand the constant forces that will be applied to it
upon running and jumping.
While bearing in mind that a regular athletic shoe needs a heel that is
firmly attached during use, there are shoes on platforms, as well as
platform devices that strap onto shoes, that essentially serve as to
transfer weight from the heel of the shoe to the forward sole of the shoe.
This principal, called plyometric training, which essentially strengthens
the calf muscles and achilles tendons of the lower leg due to increased
extension and exertion of the muscles during exercise, is the secondary
function of the shoes described herein. It is in this alternative function
however, that the elimination of the heel is desirable and necessary to
allow the forward sole to hold the weight of the wearer, and to achieve
the clearance needed to allow for the additional heel dip movement that
will also help serve to strengthen the lower leg muscles over time of
continued use in this application.
It is out of these two valid functions that the development of this
invention was initiated. It serves the function of a general use athletic
shoe when the removably attached heel unit is interlocked within the sole
of the shoe via a snap-locking track slide retainer fixedly disposed at
the instep area of the sole that prevents any horizontal movement of the
unit. A second heel track slide retainer fixedly disposed in the sole at
the heel area of the shoe will prevent any vertical movement of the unit.
When the entire unit is interlocked in place, it also serves to prevent
any lateral movement of the heel, and, also important during rigorous
athletic activity, it will prevent any torque of the heel or the sole of
the shoe. These several components of attachment when used collectively
will provide for a synergy that effectively will allow the shoe to
function in a normal manner, giving the user the required support that is
needed from a regular type athletic shoe.
When the shoes are to be used in their training form, the heel is detached
from the shoe by way of depressing a plastic snap lock insert and release
that is integrally attached to the heel track slide which is fixedly
attached to the detachable heel, from the snap-lock track slide retainer
fixedly disposed in the sole at the heel of the athletic shoe. In this
application, the shoe functions as a plyometric training shoe, with a
special paddle shape design sole that provides greater stability when the
heel is absent, as well as secondary heel projection that is integral to
the sole in the training mode that serves to protect the components of the
detachable heel from wear during its use in this application.
In referring back now to the platform type shoes, which have a U.S. Pat.
No. 3,739,500 invented by Cox, and the strap on devices that are removably
attached to regular shoes that provide for plyometric training principals,
they do serve the same function, but it is not accomplished in the same
manner. Further, the aforementioned products do not serve a combination
purpose, and are only designed for training exercises, and cannot be used
for general usage as the combination product I disclose herein.
In further researching of prior patents, several have been identified with
interchangeable or exchangeable heels. All but one are related to men's
dress type shoes or ladies high heels with a means for replacing or
exchanging worn heels. Only one Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,649, issued to
Choi, entitled "Sports Shoes with exchangeable heels", show athletic type
shoes with a removable type heel. However, this design is also exclusively
for the purpose of exchanging a worn heel that is removable only for the
purpose of interchanging the heel with another heel, and its means of
accomplishing the removability of the heel are also different than that of
the invention disclosed herein. Also, although the innovation of the prior
art may be suitable for its specific individual purpose, it is in no way
suitable for the purpose which the invention disclosed herein will
provide, that being a combination plyometric training device and athletic
shoe. Further, its application to a viable as well as durable athletic
product are questionable due to it execution of design and, I believe its
reduction to pratice would incur some difficulty. In addition, it is
stated within the background of the invention, and more specifically, on
the final line of the description of prior art, that "the above separable
heel has some problems which should be overcome". It is of my opinion that
the invention I submit can be easily produced and is commercially viable
based on thorough market research.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the invention is to provide an athletic shoe that has
a removable heel.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide an athletic shoe with
a removable heel that will allow for the wearer to use the shoe as a means
of plyometric strength training that will enable the wearer to build the
calf muscles and achilles tendons of the legs, when the heel is removed
from the shoe.
It is another objective to provide for an athletic shoe that will perform
like, and be as durable and comfortable as any other high quality
conventional athletic shoe in regular use when its removable heel is
secured in place.
It is still another objective that with the removable heel in place, the
unique interlocking assembly will provide for preventing any relative
movement of the heel and inadvertent detachment of the heel during normal
use of the shoe.
It is yet another objective that it perform just as well and be as equally
durable in the training mode with the heel removed.
It is still a further objective to have an athletic shoe that converts from
the training configuration to the conventional configuration and back
again without having to dismount the shoe and with the release of only a
single locking mechanism.
It is a final objective of the invention to be relatively easy as well as
cost effective to manufacture, based on the technologies of shoe
manufacturing that are currently in use.
These and other objects of the invention are realized by providing a shoe
that comprises a heel that attaches and detaches to the heel section of an
athletic shoe. The heel contains a male portion of a dovetail track slide
with integrally attached snap-lock insert that is fixedly disposed into
the heel by way of parallel insert stabilizing tabs. The heel section of
the sole of the shoe will contain a female portion of a dovetail track
that is fixedly disposed into the heel section of the sole also by way of
parallel insert stabilizing tabs.
To further lock the heel securely in place in accordance with the
embodiment of the invention, the snap lock insert that is integrally
attached to the male portion of the dovetail track as noted in the
preceding paragraph is inserted horizontally into the snap-lock track
slide retainer that is fixedly disposed into the sole at the instep of the
athletic shoe by way of insert stabilizing tabs. This lock-in effect is
accomplished by the pliability of the downward protruding catch lever
extending down from the snap-lock insert that slides up upon insertion
into the snap-lock track slide retainer, and than snaps down into locking
position once fully engaged into the snap-lock track slide retainer.
Reversing the process by pushing the catch lever up from through a cutout
on the bottom of the sole in the area of the snap lock track slide
retainer will release the heel unit and allow its removal by sliding it
out horizontally from the female portion of the dovetail track slide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded bottom perspective view of an athletic shoe with a
removable heel for allowing the shoe to be used as a training device
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the sole taken along line
A of FIG. 4 showing the removable heel attached to the sole of the shoe,
incorporating the interlocking and shock absorption qualities of the shoe.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal side view of the shoe in its training
configuration with the heel removed, with phantom lines showing the
fixedly attached parts within the sole of the shoe.
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section view of the sole taken on line A of
FIG. 2, and
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the interlocking mechanisms
that are to be fixedly attached to the sole and heel sections of the shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown the sole 4 of an athletic shoe and
a removably attachable heel 8 that are correspondingly configured to allow
an interlocking engagement between the components to allow the heel
structure to perform as if it were integral to the athletic shoe.
The said sole 4 will include an integral molded vertical snap-lock retainer
channel 20 within the area of the instep, which further include integrally
molded vertical snap-lock stabilizing retainer channels 22. These channels
20, 22 are provided to secure the snap-lock track slide retainer 18 that
is inserted up through and fixedly disposed in the instep area of the
sole. The heel section of the sole 6 will be recessedly non-planar to the
sole 4. It will contain an external U-shaped projection 14 with a center
groove running through it that will house the fixedly disposed heel track
slide retainer 16.
The said heel track slide retainer 16 will incorporate a female portion of
dove tail track joint 16a, track slide retainer insert stabilizers 16b
(SHOWN IN FIG. 2-5 ONLY), and an inwardly converging track stop mating
section 16c.
The removable heel 8 will contain a heel track slide with snap-lock insert
10, which is designed to inter-lock with the heel track slide retainer 16
which is fixedly disposed within the heel section of the sole 6. The heel
8 will also contain an internally formed U-shaped recess 12 that will
correspondingly engage with the externally formed U-shaped projection 14
on the heel section of the sole 6.
Another means of engagement and securing of the heel 8 is by way of
parallel outwardly diverging heel insert wedges 26 the will substantially
mate with parallel inwardly converging recessed heel insert wedges 24
molded within the instep area of the sole.
Engagement between the said heel track slide retainer 16 of the heel
section of the sole 6 and the heel track slide with snap-lock insert 10 is
accomplished when the male portion of dovetail track joint 10a is
horizontally affixed across the female portion of dovetail track joint
16a. This union will be partially complete when the inwardly converging
track stop mating section 16c of the track slide retainer 16 mates with
the outwardly diverging track stop 10d on the heel track slide 10.
The final element of this particular interlocking mechanism will be
completed when the snap-lock insert 10b that is integrally attached to the
heel track slide 10 is inserted within the snap-lock track slide retainer
18, and the pliable catch lever 10e of the snap-lock insert 10b will move
upward and then engage downward within the snap-lock retainer catch and
release cutout 18b. Disengagement of the removably attached heel 8 cannot
be achieved unless the user pushes the pliable catch lever 10e up back
through the snap-lock retainer catch and release cutout 18b that is
accessible through the integrally molded vertical snap-lock retainer
channel 20 within the sole instep.
A final reference to FIG. 1 shows that the snap-lock track slide retainer
18 is fixedly disposed within the integrally molded vertical snap-lock
retainer channel 20 within the instep portion of the sole. It is further
positioned and stabilized from any type of horizontal movements by the
integrally molded vertical snap-lock stabilizing retainer channels 22 also
incorporated into the instep portion of the heel. These stabilizing
retainer channels 22 correspond with snap-lock retainer insert stabilizers
18a that are integrally attached to the snap-lock track slide retainer 18.
FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross section of the sole 4, heel section of
the sole 6 and the removably attached heel 8 of the athletic shoe 2. When
completely interlocked, the heel track slide 10 with snap-lock insert 10b
as previously described will be slidably engaged with the heel track slide
retainer 16 which is fixedly disposed within the heel section of the sole
6. The snap-lock insert 10b portion of the heel track slide 10 is also
shown inserted within the snap-lock track slide retainer 18.
More specifically, the pliable catch lever 10e of the snap-lock insert 10b
is securely engaged within the snap-lock retainer catch and release cutout
18b. Whereas the pliable catch lever 10e will prevent the removably
attached heel 8 from pulling back away from the sole 6, the outwardly
diverging track stop 10d of the heel track slide 10 will prevent any
further forward movement of the heel 8 when slidably engaged with the
inwardly converging track stop mating section 16c of the heel track slide
retainer 16.
Also shown in FIG. 2 is the outwardly diverging heel insert wedge 26 which
is integrally molded within the front portion of the removably attached
heel 8 that engages within the inwardly converging recessed heel insert
wedges 24 within the instep portion of the sole.
The sole of the athletic shoe 2 will consist of a heel section 6 and a
singular out-sole section 4, with no mid-sole section as most athletic
shoes have. This is because the sole has to be stable enough to retain the
components of the removable heel 8, and also to provide the support
necessary since the shoe 4 is designed to be used without the heel section
8. The said sole will be made of a hard type of rubber such as ebonite, or
a type of unfoamed polyurethane such as is commonly used in the
construction of out-soles and not the sponge rubber or foamed polyurethane
generally used for mid-sole construction.
To compensate for the hardness of the shoe sole 4, the area at the ball of
the foot will contain an integrally molded cutout that will include a
softer, shock absorbing type of insole cushioning compound 30, such as
foam or sponge rubber. Above this will be a conventional type of insole
lining 28.
The body or upper of the athletic shoe 2 will have all of the conventional
elements of today's athletic shoes. It will also be substantially made of
conventional materials and assembled with conventional construction
techniques.
Referring now to FIG. 3 the athletic shoe 2 is shown in its training
configuration with the heel 8 removed. There will be a minimum of 1"
clearance from the bottom of the external U-shaped heel projection 14 to
the planar line of the ground. This is necessary to provide for the heel
of the wearer to be suspended off of the ground thereby causing the calf
muscles to support 100% of the athletes body weight, thereby providing the
plyometric exercising characteristics of the shoe.
The heel track slide retainer 16 is demonstrated in this drawing figure by
phantom lines as it will be fixedly disposed within the center groove of
the external U-shaped heel projection 14 integrally molded to the heel
section of the sole 6. It will be slightly recessed below the planar line
of the bottom of the U-shaped heel projection 14 to prevent any wear to
the said heel track slide retainer 16 due to any contact with the ground
surface during active use,
The placement of the snap-lock track slide retainer 18 is shown as it is
located within the integrally molded vertical snap-lock retainer channel
20 at the instep area of the sole 4.
In FIG. 4 there is shown the rear of the athletic shoe 2. The sole 4
section is cutaway to demonstrate the corresponding union between the
external U-shaped heel projection 14 which is integrally molded to the
heel section of the sole 6 and the internal U-shaped recess 12 molded
within the removably attached heel 8. This union allows for greater
stability of the shoe 2 when used with the removable heel 8 in place.
Further demonstrated is the means for fastening the heel track slide
retainer 16 within the heel section of the sole 6. This is accomplished by
the track slide retainer insert stabilizers 16b that are integrally
attached parallel to, and on opposing sides of one another, on the heel
track slide retainer 16. The insert stabilizers 16b will slidably engage
within corresponding channels molded within the heel section of the sole
6.
The heel track slide 10 within the removably attached heel 8 is retained in
position by way of the track slide insert stabilizers 10c that are
integrally attached parallel to, and on opposing sides of one another, on
the heel track slide 10. These insert stabilizers 10c will slidably engage
within corresponding channels molded within the removably attached heel 8.
These insert stabilizers 10c, 16b will prevent any vertical disengagement
of the heel track slide 10 and heel track slide retainer 16. To prevent
them from slidably disengaging horizontally from their perspective
placements, an adhesive such as cyanoacrylate can be used to form a more
permanent bond.
When the male portion of the dovetail track joint 10a is slidably engaged
with the female portion of dovetail track joint 16a, and the pliable catch
lever 10e of the snap-lock insert 10b as illustrated in FIG. 2 is inserted
within the snap-lock track slide retainer 18 and engaged with the
snap-lock retainer catch and release cutout 18b also of FIG. 2, there is
achieved a completely interlocking means of preventing any vertical,
horizontal, lateral or torque movement of the removably attached heel 8.
Finally, in FIG. 5 is shown an exploded perspective view showing the
previously described interlocking elements of the current invention.
Specifically, the Heel track slide 10 with snap-lock insert 10b which will
slidably engage with the heel track slide retainer 16 and the snap-lock
track slide retainer 18 as previously described in the other drawing
figures. These elements can be manufactured of a molded PVC type plastic
or any other similar durable material that may be suitable for this
application.
Although the preferred embodiment of combination athletic shoes and
plyometric training devices has been disclosed, it should be understood
that various modifications in size, composition, configuration and
arrangement of parts can be made by those skilled in the art within the
spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
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